4 
WORKS OF IMPROVEMENT. 
25. Departmental improvement fellings were made over 40 acres in the 
Tasek Gelugor reserve at a cost of $238.80, i.e., $5.97 per acre. The trees 
ringed and felled in this operation were later extracted by a contractor, 
royalty amounting to $152.87 being paid. The net cost per acre tints 
amounted to $2.15. The improvement fellings started in the I >11 kit J urn 
reserve in 1928 were completed over 35 acres, the cost for the^year amounting 
to $157.80, bringing up the total cost for the whole area to $6.49 per acre. 
In Malacca improvement fellings were continued and completed over 
the following areas: — 
Bukit Sedanan 1,184 acres, Bukit Senggeh 167 acres, Ayer Panas 859 
acres, Merlimau 348 acres, Ramuan China 980 acres and Sungei Udang 494 
acres, in all 4,032 acres at a cost of $35>7^°-8o, $K£>7 per act e. I he cost 
is high but the forest, in the absence of a market for the inferior species, 
cannot be improved in any other way. 
Bcrtam cutting on free permit continued in the Bukit Panchor and 
Ramuan China reserves. 
EXPLOITATION. 
Timber and fuel. 
* ( a ) — From reserved forests. 
26. No timber and 56 tons of firewood were removed under ordinary 
fellings from the Singapore reserves, compared with 3! tons of timber and 
no firewood in 1928. A considerable amount was cut by squatters on the 
areas given up to them for vegetable cultivation, but no record of quantities 
was kept as commuted royalty was paid. 4 he total revenue for the year 
was $891 compared with $9,812 in 1928. 4 he large decrease is accounted for 
by the much smaller area given up to squatters, vis. 180 acres as compared 
with 1,408 acres in 1928. 
27. In Penang and Province Wellesley the outturn oi timbei and firewood 
was 315 tons and 1,410 tons as compared with 386 and 1,445 tons 111 J 9 2 ^- 
Most of the firewood came from the mangrove reserve at Balik Pulau, from 
the improvement fellings in 1 asek Gelugor, and from the leased workings 
in Bukit Goa Ipoh. The revenue decreased from $1,379 in x 9 28 to $LL5 2 * 
28. In the Bindings the outturn of class 1 timber increased from 123 
tons to 190 tons. None of the reserves are open to regular cutting of this 
class of timber, and it was produced entirely by areas destined for excision 
from the reserves. The outturn of class 2 timber and poles decreased to 
140 tons as compared with 1,109 tons * n l 9 2 $- 4 his decrease is accounted 
for by the closing down of the mangrove pole cutting in the Batu Undan 
reserve. The outturn of firewood rose from 321 tons in 1928 to 719 tons. 
44ie revenue decreased from $2,961 in 1928 to $2,284. 
29. In Malacca there was a general all round increase in the outturn o 
timber and firewood accounted for by the increased demand and the opening 
up of the reserves. The outturn of class 1 and 2 timbei was 2,083 an( i 3P4 2 
tons compared with 408 and 1,923 tons in 1928. I he stimulus gnen to t ie 
inland firewood trade by the part remission of royalty in 1928 resulted in a 
markedly improved outturn, and the demand has increased to such an extent 
that full royalty will lie reimposed for all accessible areas as from 1st 
January, 1930. The total outturn was 12,737 tons compared with 1,875 tons 
in 1928 and 71 tons in 1927. The revenue increased from 83,878 m 19 2t to 
$16,025. 
30. The total outturn of the Straits Settlements was 5,870 tons of timber 
and 14,922 tons of firewood as compared with 3*953 ail( ^ 3’^4J_ tons in T 9 2c - 
The outturn of class 1 timber rose from 55° to 2 * 2 ^ 0 tons. Revenue tinder 
these heads increased from S 18,030 to $20,352. 
